Two Woman Dressed As Nuns As Suspected Of Robbing Banks

Two women are accused of trying to rob a bank in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains while dressed as nuns, according to reports. The pair were charged with robbing several New Jersey banks as well.

Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, 19, of New Haven, Connecticut, and Melisa Aquino Arias, 23, of the Dominican Republic, appeared in court Monday and were charged with robbing banks in Garfield and Teaneck, New Jersey, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

The two are suspected of robbing banks in Garfield on Sept. 27. The second robbery occurred at an NVE Bank in Teaneck Sunday, at which time the women were apprehended, according to the AP.

Authorities said the women are also suspected of attempting an Aug. 28 robbery of the Citizen’s Bank along routes 611 and 715 in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. One suspect allegedly flashed a handgun and demanded money from a teller as the other woman stood near the exit.

Both women donned a black nun’s habit and veil and one woman wore sunglasses. They fled the scene without money after an alarm sounded. Authorities said a teller set off the alarm that scared the suspects away.

Pocono Township Police restricted customer access to the bank as detectives were inside investigating the incident.

The FBI posted images from surveillance cameras of the heist on Twitter.

The two face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty on all charges.